Waitangi Day 2026
Shannon Bell is Le Mana Pasifika’s Program Manager. Waitangi Day in Aotearoa (New Zealand) signifies the signing of Te Triti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi) on 6 February, 1840. Waitangi Day is a day of celebration as folks commemorate the country’s founding document but also examine the country’s history of colonisation and disregard for te Triti. To share more about the day itself, Shannon compiled some reflections from members of the Le Mana team.
As a manager, I’m privileged to hold and share the whakaaro (thoughts) of our people. It’s a privilege to listen to our community, to support spaces for our community to be themselves, and to guide and be guided by our young people. Here is what Waitangi Day means across the Le Mana team:
Dae, Senior Youth Worker:
“For me, Waitangi Day is about honouring our tūpuna (ancestors) for protecting our tikanga (customs) and reo (language), and encouraging our rangatahi (youth) to continue that legacy — to speak reo, sing, dance, and live their culture with pride. As an older sister to brothers and cousins born overseas, I carry the responsibility to ensure our culture is never lost within our whānau (family).”
Anna, Senior Youth Worker:
“A reminder of the fight our ancestors endured for a better future — and the ongoing journey we carry as tangata whenua (indigenous people) of Aotearoa. It strengthens my commitment to my whānau and to always stand proud as Māori wherever I am in the world. Our strength, resilience, kotahitanga (unity), manaaki (support), aroha (love) and mana flow through us.”
‘Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini.’ (“My success is not mine alone, but it is the strength of many.”) – Māori Proverb
‘Ka whawhai tonu mātou — ake, ake, ake.’ (“Friend, we will fight on forever, forever and forever!”)
Cass, Youth Leader & Casual Youth Worker:
“Waitangi Day is a day of reflection on my identity as a young Māori woman. It’s about connection and the relevance of our agreement with the Crown, celebrating not just the survival of our people, but our culture too. It’s a time to slow down, be grateful, and carry the resilience of our ancestors as we pave the way for the next generation.”
Hearing these reflections affirms why this mahi (work) matters. Waitangi Day is not a single moment in time, but a living responsibility we carry into our leadership, our practice, and our relationships with rangatahi and whānau. It is my hope that all young people experience the dignity, respect, and partnership that Waitangi was intended to uphold. As we look forward, I hold hope for a new Hawaiki hou for our rangatahi – one that remains deeply connected to our whakapapa and ancestral homes, while also being grounded in a meaningful, respectful relationship with this whenua and all who share it.
This reminds me that our role is to protect culture, model it with integrity, and create spaces where it can be lived confidently, so our young people move forward grounded in who they are, where they come from, and where they are headed.